The
Ascension of Christ
The Gospel of Luke describes the transference of the
resurrected body of Jesus from the earth to heaven in Acts 1:9-11.
“And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they
were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing
intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside
them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This
Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you
have watched Him go into heaven.”
The location of the ascension was east of Jerusalem near Bethany.
Forty days after His physical resurrection Jesus “was taken up” and disappeared
into a cloud.
God raised Christ from the dead “and made Him sit at His right
hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:20). He sits “at the right hand of the
Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).
The ascension made it possible for Christ to enter into His heavenly
“glorification” and sit at the right hand of the Father until His enemies are
made His footstool (Ps. 110:1).
The evidence for the glorification of Christ and His superiority over
the Old Testament saints is His ascension (Acts 2:33-36). When He arrived into heaven He
received “the name that is above every
name” (Phil. 2:9-11). Jesus is superior to angels, authorities, principalities,
powers and dominions because He is the ascended Lord (Heb. 1:13; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet.
3:22).
The important message for every believer is that even though Jesus is
absent physically from the earth, He is still spiritually present with His church. He can
be anywhere and everywhere with His followers all the time.
Jesus told His disciples the Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus
died, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven (Jn. 16:7). “If I do not go away, the
Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Without the ascension Jesus would be in one location on the earth,
but not spiritually present everywhere. Because Jesus ascended to heaven He is
“wherever two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in your midst” (Matt.
18:20). At His ascension He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the
age” (Matt. 28:20). Because Jesus is in heaven He is everywhere all the time through
His Spirit.
The ascension proves that Jesus really did rise from the dead. Where
is the body of Jesus? He is at the right side of His Father seated in power and authority
(Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:30). He is alive.
The ascension gives us a steadfast assurance that the atoning
sacrifice of Jesus Christ was accepted by God the Father as the perfect atonement for
sinners. Jesus is in the presence of the Father and no other sacrifice for sin ever needs
to be made again (Heb. 4:14; 6:20; 9:24). Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice for sin never
has to be repeated (Heb. 1:3; 9:12; 10:12; 12:2). He sits on the throne. His atoning work
is finished.
The ascension of Jesus gives us assurance that everything is now
complete and one day we, too, will reign with Him in His kingdom. Jesus returned to heaven
“to prepare a place for you” (Jn. 14:2). The ascension guarantees the promise,
“I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also” (v. 3). One day every believer in Christ will ascend to be with Him (2 Cor.
5:1-10; 2 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:50-58).
The ascension of Jesus makes it possible for us to go boldly into the
presence of God in prayer (Heb. 4:14-16). We have an advocate with the Father (1 John
2:1-2) who has experienced everything we experience in this life. He understands and is
always ready to help in our time of need (Heb. 2:17; 5:7-10).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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